Card feeding apparatus for a packaging machine



May l7, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1963 7Sheets-Sheet 1 MALT INVENTORS E. DUGLE ROLAND W. WAGNER AttorneysMayil7, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE I Filed May 15, 1965 '7Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. DUGLE ROLAND W. WAGNER Attorneys May,17, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1963 '7Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. DUGLE BY ROLAND W. WAGNER I MS '17 1Attornevs y 7, 1966 "r. E. DUGLE ETAL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1963 7Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.

FIG.

INVENTOR. THOMAS E. DUGLE ROLAND W. WAGNER Attornevs May 17, 1966 T. E.DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1965 '7Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.

INVENTOR. THOMAS E. DUG LE ROLAND W.WAGNER wwwww May,\17, 1966 T. E.DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledMay 15, 1963 L V INV HOMAS E. DU

ENTORL GLE B ROLAND W. WAGNER Aflornevs y. 17, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1963 7Sheets-Sheet 7 -IO30 JQO FIG. 22

R. THOMAS 5.1%? O ROLAND w. WAGNER AHornevs 3,251,172 CARD FEEDINGAPPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Thomas E. Dugle, Indian Hill, andRoland W. Wagner, Sharonville, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, toWarrick Equipment Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio FiledMay 15, 1963, Ser. No. 280,541 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-195) This inventionrelates to packaging machinery. More particularly, this inventionrelates to a card feeding apparatus for a machine for packaging articlesin groups.

An object of this invention is to provide a packaging machine in which acard of board is fed from a stack of boards to a tray or bucket where apredetermined number of the articles are loaded therein at a loadingstation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a card feedingarrangement for a machine of this type in which the card is folded intothe bucket and, after the card has been folded into the bucket, thebucket is advanced along a track which grips and holds edges of the cardto hold the card in the bucket until articles have been mounted therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this typein which the card is gripped between two arch-shaped members whichengage the card to fold the card into the bucket and shape the card toan arched configuration so that the card can advance along an arched orcurved track to the loading station.

A further object of this invention is to provide a card feeding deviceof this type in which one of the card forming and folding membersincludes spaced arms which fit on opposite sides of the bucket so that,as the bucket is advanced or indexed, the bucket can pass the member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this typein which, as the card is folded into the bucket, pivoted or swingingcard holding members are swung back sufficiently to permit the card toenter the bucket and then return to a card holding position so that theother card folding member can be removed from the bucket before thebucket is indexed.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertainsfrom the following detailed description, and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation showing a machine for packagingarticles having a card feeding arrangement constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of this invention;

FIG-2 is a plan view of a card feeding end of the machine illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation showing details ofconstruction of the card feeding arrangement, parts being broken awayand in section to reveal details of construction, a card feedingarrangement being shown in a first position in which vacuum cups thereofengage cards;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of the card feeding arrangement withthe card feeding arrangement in a second position in which vacuum cupsare released from the cards;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the card feeding and foldingmechanism looking in the direction of the lines 55 in FIG. 4 some partsof the card feeding mechanism being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in upright section taken on thelines 6--6 in FIG. 5 showing details of construction of a valvingmechanism forming a part of the structure of the card feeding device;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of the card holding portion of themachine, cards being shown therein in dotdash lines;

- United States Patent 0 3,251,172 Patented May 17, 1566 FIG. 8 is aview in section taken on the line 88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in section taken on the line 99 in FIG. 8 some fastenerelements being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 10 is a view in section taken on the line 10-10 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a view in section taken on the line 11-11 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a view in section taken generally on the line 12-12 in FIG.4;

FIG. 13 is a view in section taken on the line 1313 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the same line as FIG.13, card catching segments being shown in an outer position in dot-dashlines;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in front elevation andpartly in section showing card folding mechanism in partly foldedposition;

FIG. 16 is a view in section taken on the line in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is enlarged fragmentary view partly in section showing a bucketand bucket supports in further positions;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of an inner card for use in the machine;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a wrapper card or board for use therewith,lines of fold being indicated in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a card catching and folding memberforming a portion of the machine;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary View in section taken on the line 21-21 in FIG.15;

FIG. 21A is another fragmentary view in section taken on the line 21-21in FIG. 15 and FIG. 22 is a view partly in front elevation and partly insection of a main housing showing drive connections, some parts beingomitted for clarity.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown a machine 9 for counting and packagingarticles which embodies a card feeding and folding arrangementconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. Themachine is constructed for counting and packaging articles such asWiener sausages or the like and placing same in packages containing apredetermined number of articles (10) in each package with two layersmounted one on top of the other, eachlayer containing half of thearticles. This invention represents an, improvement over the machineshown and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 115,041, filedlune 5, 1961.

The machine as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes an article conveyor 12which delivers wieners 13 to a loading section 14. The loading section14 includes a main housing 15 which supports card feeding appara s 1 6and a loading end of package conveyor 17.

21 mounted on a frame element 22 (FIG. 5) which is supported on a wall23 of the main housing 15 of the machine. Upper and lower card carryingchutes or bins 24 and 26 (FIG. 4) are mounted on the plate 21 and can bewelded thereto.

As shown in FIG. 10, the upper card chute 24 is of generally channelshape. Angle-shaped rails 27 and 28 are adapted to support a pluralityof wrapper cards or boards 29, indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 8. Asshown in FIG. 19, each of the wrapper cards 29 has a body 30 providedwith outwardly extending portions 31 and 32 which terminate in shoulders33 and 34. The rails 27 and 28 (FIG. 11) are so spaced that theshoulders 33 and 34 can rest on the rails in the manner that-the wrappercard 29a is shown in FIG. 7. Lower ends of upper flanges of the rails 27and 28 are bent upwardly as indicated at 36 and 37 (FIG. 10) to formcatches or stops against which the wrapper cards are held. A

D weighted card holder 38 runs on the rails 27 and 28 behindthe wrappercards to hold the wrapper cards against the upwardly turned stops 36 and37. In addition, the wrapper cards are held by upper catch or stopmembers 39 and 41, one of which is mounted on the plate 21 and the otherof which is mounted on a chute forming plate 42. The chute forming plate42 is mounted on the card chutes 24 and 26 and can be welded thereto andis attached to the upright plate 21 by a strut 43 (FIGS. 8 and 9).

The lower card chute 26 is of channel shape in section as shown in FIG.11 and can be welded to the plate 21 as well as to the plate 42. Trackmembers 44 and 46 which are of W-shape in section, are mounted in thechute member 26. Lower end portions 47 and 48 of the track members 44and 46, respectively, are turned upwardly, as indicated in FIGS. 8, 9,and 11, to form catches or stops for lower edges of cards 49, shown indot-dash lines in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 18, each of the cards 49 canbe of rectangular shape. Upper edges of the cards 49 are held by aspring catch 51 which is of generally angle shape and can be formed ofspring metal or the like and is mounted on the underside of a web 53 ofthe upper card chute 24 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. A weighted cardholder 54 mounted on the track members 44 and 46 behind the rectangularcards 49 engages the rectangular cards to hold the rectangular cards inengagement with the stops 47, 48 and 51. The

wrapper cards 29 and the rectangular cards 49 can be formed ofpaperboard or the like.

Cards are removed from the stacks thereof by vacuum cups 54 and 56. Thevacuum cups 54 and 56 are mounted on a vacuum line 57 which communicateswith an elongated blind bore 58 (FIG. 6) in a supporting shaft 59. Theshaft 59 is mounted in a bearing 61 and in a bearing and valve member 62for reciprocation so that the vacuum cups 54 and 56 can move from aninner position shown in FIGS. 3 and 9 at which the vacuum cups canengage the cards and an outer position shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 towithdraw one card from each of the upper and lower card carrying chutes.A tension spring 63 draws the shaft 59 and the vacuum cups 54 and 56toward card engaging position. One end of the spring 63 is attached to astud 63a (FIG. 4) mounted in the plate 21. The other end of the spring63 is attached to an upright pin 6312, which extends through the shaft59 and is engageable with a pad 65 (FIG. of nylon mounted on the plate21. A vacuum can be impressed on the vacuum cups 54 and 56 by means of avacuum line 66 (FIG. 6) which is attached to a suitable source ofvacuum. The bearing and valve member 62 houses spaced bearing andsealing sleeves 67 and 68 which are mounted adjacent ends of the bearingand valve member 62 and form an annular internal chamber thereinsidesurrounding the shaft 59 and in communication with the vacuum line 66.When the vacuum cups are in the FIG. 4 position, a vent opening 69 (FIG.6) in the shaft 59 connects the vacuum cups to the atmosphere so thatthere is no vacuum impressed thereon and the vacuum cups are releasedfrom the cards. On the other hand, when the vacuum cups are advanced tothe FIG. 9 position, the vent opening 69 (FIG. 6) is closed inside thebearing and sealing sleeve 68 and an opening 71 in the shaft 59communicates with the space surrounding the shaft and with the vacuumline 66 so that a vacuum is impressed upon the vacuum cups when in theFIG. 9 position.

When the vacuum cups are moved outwardly, each vacuum cup removes a cardfrom the end of one of the chutes, releasing the card from the stopmembers associated therewith. Then, as the vacuum cups advance outwardlytoward the FIG. 4 position, the vent opening 69 comes free of thebearing and sealing sleeve 68 to release the vacuum, whereupon the cardsdrop downwardly, the wrapper card falling to the position indicated at2% in FIG. 8 in front of a card guide member 71a quarter turn.

and the rectangular card falling to the position indicated at 491) inFIG. 8 behind the wrapper card 2%. At this position the cards 49]) and2% are supported upon lower card support flanges 72 (FIG. 8) and 73(FIG. 9). The flanges 72 and 73 are part of a card catching and foldingmember 74 which is mounted on the cross bar 43, as shown in FIGS. 8 and9. Details of construction of the card catching and folding member 74are shown in FIG. 20. The card catching and folding member 74, as shownin FIG. 20 includes a central plate portion 76. A flange 77, extendingdownwardly therefrom, is provided with openings 78 and 79 for receivingfasteners 81 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) for attaching the card catching andfolding member 74 to the cross bar 43. At the upper edge of the centralplate portion 76 (FIG. 20) are provided a card folding plate portion 82on one side of the central plate portion 76 and the card supportingflanges 72 and 73 on the other side of the central plate portion.

The vacuum cups 54 and 56, the vacuum line 57, and the shaft 59 aredrawn in card picking direction to the right in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 by acable 84 which is attached to the upright pin 63b. The cable 84 runsover a pulley 86 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). A lower end of the cable 84 isattached to a fitting 87 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 88. Thestud 88 is mounted in an angle shaped crank or card folding member 89.The crank 89 is mounted on and keyed to a shaft 90 (FIGS. 5 and 12)which extends into the main housing 15. As the card folding member 89swings clockwise, as shown in FIG. 4, in a card holding direction, thevacuum cups move toward card engaging position, and as the card foldingmember 84 returns in counter-clockwise direction, cards are removed fromthe chutes or bins 24 and 26.

The crank 89 and the shaft 90 are driven by mehcanism inside the mainhousing 15 which is illustrated in FIG. 22. An electric motor 91provides power for operating the mechanisms of the machine. The motor 91drives an input to an electric clutch 92. The clutch 92 can be similarin construction to that shown in our above identified co-pendingapplication. When a cycle of the card picking and folding mechanism isto be initiated, the clutch 92 is energized by mechanism (not shown),which causes the clutch to engage so that a drive or output shaft 93 isdriven to drive a chain 94 which, in turn, drives a shaft 96. A cam 97mounted on the shaft 96 engages a cam follower 98. The cam follower 98is mounted on a crank arm 99 which, in turn, is mounted on the shaft 99so that, each time the shaft 96 and the cam 97 perform one revolution,the angle-shaped crank 89 swings from the full line poistion of FIG. 4to the FIG. 3 position and returns. In addition, the shaft 96 alsodrives a chain 100 which drives a Geneva gear impeller or driver 101which, in turn, drives a Geneva gear 102. The Geneva gear 182 is mountedon a shaft 103. The driver 101 has two rollers 193a, each of which isengageable in slots 103b of the Geneva gear, and, each time the driver101 turns one-half turn, the Geneva gear 102 is turned one- Electriclimit switch mechanism (not shown) assoicated with the Geneva geardriver releases the clutch at the end of one half turn advance thereof.

The angle-shaped crank 89 carries a paddle or head 104 (FIG. 4) which isof arc shape and engages cards as the crank 89 swings from the full lineposition of FIG. 4 to the dot-dash line position and, as the cards aredriven to the right, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 15, wrapper card 29c (FIG.15) is folded as it is advanced to the right with a lower end portionbeing engaged by the card catching and folding member 74. A card foldingprojection 106 (FIGS. 7 and 8) mounted on the plate 21 is engaged by anupper portion 107 of a wrapper card to be folded in a similar manner asindicated in FIG. 15. As the cards are advanced to the right, the cardsare brought into engagementwith card arching members or strips 188 and199 (FIG. 5), which are arched in a complementary manner to the paddleor head 104. The strips 108 and 109 are mounted on an arm 111 (FIGS. 4,5, and 12) which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 90. A tension spring112 linking the arm 111 and a stud 113 mounted on the wall 23 urges thearm 111 and the strips 108 and 109 to the position shown in FIG. 4. atwhich the arm 111 engages a bumper 114, which is carried by a springstrip 116 (FIG. 9) mounted on the strut 43. As shown in FIG. 15,rectangular card 490 and the central portion of the wrapper card 29c areformed to an arch shape between the paddle 104 and the strips 108 and109 as the cards are'advanced to the right. The paddle 104 advances thecards between card catching arcs 117 and 118. As shown in FIG. 13, theare 118 is mounted on a hinge arm 119 which is hinged on a block 121mounted on the housing wall 23. The arc 117 is mounted on a hinge arm122, hinged on a block 123 which is mounted on a circular plate 124. Thecircular plate 124 is supported on the housing wall 23 by a supportbracket 126. Leaf springs 127 and 128 urge the arcs 117 and 118,respectively, to the position shown in FIG. 13 and, in full lines, inFIG. 14. However, as the cards are ad vanced between the arcs, the arcscan swing back to the dot-dash line position of FIG. 14 to permit thecards to advance along wedge faces 129 and 131 of the arcs 117 and 118,respectively, to pass therebetween until the cards are received betweenarc-shaped tracks 132 and 133, and the arcs 117 and 118 preventwithdrawal of the cards as the paddle 104 swings back therebetween. Theradius of curvature of the tracks 132 and 133 is substanstantially equalto the radius of curvature of the head 104 of the card folding member.

Guide bars 134, 134a, 134b, and 1340 (FIG. mounted in the tracks 132 and133, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 21A, prevent inadvertent displacement ofthe cards. The guide bars are received in slots 135 in the arcs when thearcs are in the position shown in FIGS. 21 and 21A. When the cards arein the position shown in FIG. 14, the cards are received in a bucket136. Details of construction of one of the buckets is shown in FIG. 17.The body of the bucket is of angle shape and includes a base 137, onwhich the central portion of the wrapper card is received, as indicatedat 29d, and a rear wall 138 which extends outwardly therefrom forengagement with the portion 105 of the wrapper card. Lugs 139 and 141extend downwardly from the base 137 and are mounted on upstandingportions 142 and 143 respectively. of links of a conveyor chain 144. Theconveyor chain runs on a sprocket wheel 145; as shown in FIG. 13, thesprocket wheel 145 is mounted on the shaft 103, which, as alreadyindicated, is driven by the Geneva gear 102 (FIG. 22). A front closurearm 146 (FIG. 17) is pivotally mounted on a pin 147, which connects thelugs 141 to links 143 of the conveyor chain 144. A leaf spring 148,attached to the underside of the base137, urges the front closure toclosed position. An arm 149 of the front closure is engageable with anarc-shaped track 151 to hold the front closure arm in the position atwhich an arm 146a is shown in FIG. 17. The track 151, as shown in FIG.3, is supported on brackets 152 and 153, mounted on the circular plate124, as shown in FIG. 13.

When the cards have been advanced to the FIG. 14

position, the paddle 104 is withdrawn, and the conveyor chain 144 can beindexed or advanced to bring the bucket from the position shown in FIG.15 to the position in which the bucket 136a is shown in FIG. 17. Asshown in FIG. 14, the card arching strips are received on opposite sidesof the rear wall 138 of the bucket, and the rear wall can passtherebetween. As the bucket is advanced, the cards advance along thetracks 132 and 133 (FIG. 14). As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the track 133is of C-shape in section in its upper portion and includes an outerflange 156 in its upper portion which terminates short of the arcs 117and 118. The track 132 is of similar construction but is a mirror imagethereof. As the bucket and cards advance, the cards are brought underthe outer flange 156 of the track 133 and a similar flange, not shown,of the track 132 and the tracks hold the cards in the buckets as thebuckets advance to the 136a position of FIG. 17. At this position, agroup of wieners 13 is loaded in the buckets above the cards by loadingmechanism 158 (FIG. 2), not shown in detail but which can be of theconstruction illustrated and described in our already identifiedco-pending application. Then, the bucket can be advanced to the right tothe position at which the bucket 136 is shown in FIG. 17. As the bucketadvances to this position the arm 146 is released from the track 151,and the leaf spring 146 closes the closure arm 146 to fold the wrappercard 29d around the wieners 13 and hold the cards in place as theclosure arm 146 is closed.

The card feeding arrangement for a packaging machine illustrated in thedrawings and described above is subject to structural modificationwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine whichcomprises a bin for holding a plurality of cards in an upright position,a vacuum cup mounted adjacent the bin for movement toward and away fromcards in the bin, the vacuum cup being engageable with one of the cardsin the bin when in a card engaging position, means for impressing avacuum on the vacuum cup when in card engaging position, means forreleasing the vacuum when the vacuum cup is in a card releasing positionspaced from cards in the bin, whereby the card falls from the vacuumcup, means for arresting the card in an upright position at a cardfolding station, a card folding member at the card folding stationhaving a head engageable with the card centrally thereof, a packageconveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means foradvancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a cardreceiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for advancingthe head of the card folding member into engagement with the centralportion of the card to advance the central portion of the card into thebucket at the card receiving station, guides engaging end portions ofthe card as the card is advanced by the card folding member for catchingend portions of the card to fold the end portions away from the centralportion, the head of the card folding member being arched, a pair ofspaced card arching members having faces complementary to the head ofthe card folding member and engageable by the card opposite the head ofthe card folding member, means for resiliently urging the card archingmembers toward the head of the card folding member to arch the centralportion of the card, the card arching members being received on oppositesides of the bucket when the central portion of the card is received inthe bucket, means for holding the central portion of the card in thebucket as the head is withdrawn therefrom, means for advancing thepackage conveyor to advance the bucket along an' arcuate path from thecard receiving station to a loading station, are shaped tracks engagingedges of the central portion of the card on opposite sides of the bucketas the bucket advances to hold the card in the bucket, the radius ofcurvature of the tracks being substantially equal to that of the head ofthe card folding member, means for loading articles in the bucket at theloading station, and means for advancing the bucket from the loadingstation, the tracks terminating adjacent the loading station, the cardcoming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from theloading station, the articles holding the card in the bucket whenreleased by the tracks.

2. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine whichcomprises means for holding a wrapper card at a card folding station, acard folding member at the card folding station having a head engageablewith the card centrally thereof, a package conveyor including aplurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the packageconveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving stationadjacent the card folding station, means for advancing the head of thecard folding member into engagement with the central portion of the cardto advance the central portion of the card into the bucket at the cardreceiving station, guides engaging end portions of the card as the cardis advanced by the card folding member for catching end portions of thecard to fold the end portions away from the central portion, the head ofthecard folding member being arched, a pair of spaced card archingmembers having faces complementary to the head of the card foldingmember and engageable by the card opposite the head of the card foldingmember, means for resiliently urging the card arching members toward thehead of the card folding member to arch the central portion of the card,the card arching members being received on opposite sides of the bucketwhen the central portion of the card is received in the bucket, meansfor holding the central portion of the card in the bucket as the head iswithdrawn therefrom, means for advancing the package conveyor to advancethe bucket along an arcuate path from the card receiving station to aloading station, are shaped tracks engaging edges of the central portionof the card on opposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances tohold the card in the bucket, the radius of curvature of the tracks beingsubstantially equal to that of the head of the card folding member,means for loading articles in the bucket at the loading station, thecard coming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from theloading station, the articles holding the card in the bucket whenreleased by the tracks.

3. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine whichcomprises a bin for holding a plurality of cards in an upright position,a vacuum cup mounted adjacent the bin for movement toward and away fromcards in the bin, the vacuum cup being engageable with one of the cardsin the bin when in a card engaging position, means for impressing avacuum on the vacuum cup when in card engaging position, means forreleasing the vacuum when the vacuum cup is in a card releasing positionspaced from cards in the bin, whereby the card falls from the vacuumcup, means for arresting the card in an upright position at a cardfolding station, a card folding member at the card folding stationhaving a head engageable with the card centrally theredf, a packageconveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means foradvancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a cardreceiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for operatingin timed relation with the vacuum releasing means for advancing the headof the card folding member into engagement 'with the central portion ofthe card to advance the central portion of the card into the bucket atthe card receiving sation, a card holding member engageable by the cardopposite the head of the card folding member, means for resilientlyurging the card holding member toward the head of the card foldingmember, means for holding the central portion of the card in the bucketas the head is Withdrawn therefrom, means operating in timed relationwith the card folding member for advancing the package conveyor toadvance the bucket from the card receiving station to a loading station,tracks engaging edges of the central portion of the card on oppositesides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the card in thebucket, means for loading articles in the bucket at the loading station,and means for advancing the bucket from the loading station, the tracksterminating adjacent the loading station, the card coming free of thetracks as the bucket is advanced away from the loading station, thearticles holding the card in the bucket when released by the tracks.

4. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine whichcomprises means for holding a wrapper card at a card folding station, acard folding member at the card folding station having a head engageablewith the card centrally thereof, a package conveyor including aplurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the packageconveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving stationadjacent the card folding station, means for advancing the head of thecard folding member into engagement with the central portion of the cardto advance the central portion of the card into the bucket at the cardreceiving station, the head of the card folding member being arched, acard arching member engageable by the card opposite the head of the cardfolding member, means for resiliently urging the card arching membertoward the head of the card folding member to arch the card, means forholding the card in the bucket as the head is withdrawn therefrom, meansfor advancing the package conveyor to advance the bucket along anarcuate path from the card receiving station to a loading station, andarc shaped tracks engaging edges of the central portion of the card onopposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the card inthe bucket, the radius of curvature of the tracks being substantiallyequal to that of the head of the card folding member, means for loadingarticles in the bucket at the loading station, the package conveyoradvancing the bucket from the loading station, the tracks terminatingadjacent the loading station, the card coming free of the tracks as thebucket is advanced away from the loading station, the articles holdingthe card in the bucket when released by the tracks.

5. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine whichcomprises means for holding a Wrapper card and an inner card inalignment at a card folding station with the inner card opposite acentral portion of the wrapper card, a card folding member at the cardfolding -station having a head engageable with the inner card, a packageconveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means foradvancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a cardreceiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for advancingthe head of the card folding member into engagement with the inner cardto advance the inner card and the central portion of the wrapper cardinto the bucket at the card receiving station, means for advancing thepack-' age conveyor to advance the bucket from the card receivingstation to a loading station, tracks engaging edges of the inner card onopposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the cards inthe bucket, means for loading articles in the bucket at the loadingstation, and means for advancing the bucket from the loading station,the tracks terminating adjacent the loading station, the cards comingfree of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from the loadingstation, the articles holding the cards in the bucket when released bythe tracks.

6. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine whichcomprises a bin for holding a plurality of wrapper cards in an uprightposition, a second bin for holding a plurality of inner cards in uprightposition, a pair of vacuum cups mounted adjacent the bins for movementtoward and away from cards in the bins, each of the vacuum cups beingengageable with one of the cards in one of the bins when in a cardengaging position, means for impressing a vacuum on the vacuum cups whenin card engaging position, means for releas ing the vacuum when thevacuum cups are in a card releasing position spaced from cards in thebins, whereby the cards fall from the vacuum cups, means for arrestingthe wrapper card and the inner card in an upright position at a cardfolding station with the inner card opposite a central portion of thewrapper card, a card folding member at the card folding station having ahead engageable with the inner card, a package conveyor including aplurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the packageconveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving stationadjacent the card folding station, means for advancing the head of thecard folding member into engagement with the inner card to advance theinner card and the central portion of the wrapper card into the bucketat the card receiving station, guides engaging end portions of thewrapper card as the cards are advanced by the card folding member forcatching end portions of the wrapper card to fold the end portions awayfrom the central portion, the head of the card folding member beingarched, a pair of spaced card arching members having faces complementaryto the head of the card folding member and engageable by the Wrappercard opposite the head of the card folding member, means for resilientlyurging the card arching members toward the head of the card foldingmember to arch the inner card and the central portion of the Wrappercard, the card arching members being received on opposite sides of thebucket when the inner card and the central portion of the wrapper cardare received in the bucket, means for holding the inner card and thecentral portion of the Wrapper card in the bucket as the head isWithdrawn therefrom, means for advancing the package conveyor to advancethe bucket along an arcuate path from the card receiving station to aloading station, are shaped tracks engaging edges of the inner card andthe central portion of the Wrapper card on opposite sides of the bucketas the bucket advances to hold the cards in the bucket, the radius ofcurvature of the tracks being substantially equal to that of the head ofthe card folding member, means for loading articles in the bucket at theloading station, and means for advancing the bucket from the loadingstation, the tracks terminating adjacent the loading station, the cardscoming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from theloading station, the articles holding the cards in the bucket whenreleased by the tracks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 586,076 7/1897Rose 53-195 X 2,834,262 5/ 1958 Labomarde 9349 FRANK E. BAILEY, PrimaryExaminer.

P. H. POHL, Assistant Examiner.

6. A CARD FEEDING AND FOLDING DEVICE FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE WHICHCOMPRISES A BIN FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF WRAPPER CARDS IN AN UPRIGHTPOSITION, A SECOND BIN FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF INNER CARDS IN UPRIGHTPOSITION, A PAIR OF VACUUM CUPS MOUNTED ADJACENT THE BINS FOR MOVEMENTTOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE CARDS IN THE BINS, EACH OF THE VACUUM CUPSBEING ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE OF THE CARDS IN ONE OF THE BINS WHEN IN A CARDENGAGING POSITION, MEANS FOR IMPRESSING A VACUUM ON THE VACUUM CUPS WHENIN CARD ENGAGING POSITION, MEANS FOR RELEASING THE VACUUM WHEN THEVACUUM CUPS ARE IN A CARD RELEASING POSITION SPACED FROM THE CARDS INTHE BINS, WHEREBY THE CARDS FALL FROM THE VACUUM CUPS, MEANS FORARRESTING THE WRAPPER CARD AND THE INNER CARD IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION ATA CARD FOLDING STATION WITH THE INNER CARD OPPOSITE A CENTRAL PORTION OFTHE WRAPPER CARD, A CARD FOLDING MEMBER AT THE CARD FOLDING STATIONHAVING A HEAD ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INNER CARD, A PACKAGE CONVEYORINCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CARD RECEIVING BUCKETS, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THEPACKAGE CONVEYOR TO BRING ONE OF THE BUCKETS TO A CARD RECEIVING STATIONADJACENT THE CARD FOLDING STATION, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE HEAD OF THECARD FOLDING MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER CARD TO ADVANCE THEINNER CARD AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD INTO THE BUCKETAT THE CARD RECEIVING STATION, GUIDES ENGAGING END PORTIONS OF THEWRAPPER CARD AS THE CARDS ARE ADVANCED BY THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER FORCATCHING END PORTIONS OF THE WRAPPER CARD TO FOLD THE END PORTIONS AWAYFROM THE CENTRAL PORTION, THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER BEINGARCHED, A PAIR OF SPACED CARD ARCHING MEMBERS HAVING FACES COMPLEMENTARYTO THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER AND ENGAGEABLE BY THE WRAPPERCARD OPPOSITE THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER, MEANS FOR RESILIENTLYURGING THE CARD ARCHING MEMBERS TOWARD THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDINGMEMBER TO ARCH THE INNER CARD AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPERCARD, THE CARD ARCHING MEMBERS BEING RECEIVED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEBUCKET WHEN THE INNER CARD AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARDARE RECEIVED IN THE BUCKET, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE INNER CARD AND THECENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD IN THE BUCKET AS THE HEAD ISWITHDRAWN THEREFROM, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE PACKAGE CONVEYOR TO ADVANCETHE BUCKET ALONG AN ARCUATE PATH FROM THE CARD RECEIVING STATION TO ALOADING STATION, ARC SHAPED TRACKS ENGAGING EDGES OF THE INNER CARD ANDTHE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BUCKETAS THE BUCKET ADVANCES TO HOLD THE CARDS IN THE BUCKET, THE RADIUS OFCURVATURE OF THE TRACKS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF THE HEAD OFTHE CARD FOLDING MEMBER, MEANS FOR LOADING ARTICLES IN THE BUCKET AT THELOADING STATION, AND MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE BUCKET FROM THE LOADINGSTATION, THE TRACKS TERMINATING ADJACENT THE LOADING STATION, THE CARDSCOMING FREE OF THE TRACKS AS THE BUCKET IS ADVANCED AWAY FROM THELOADING STATION, THE ARTICLES HOLDING THE CARDS IN THE BUCKET WHENRELEASED BY THE TRACKS.